When most offenses line up with two running backs and a fullback in the backfield, they’re expecting to see heavy personnel across the line of scrimmage. A couple 300-pound defensive tackles, run-stuffing inside linebackers, and a box safety.
Instead, last Sunday night the Chicago Bears saw a host of players with 20’s and 30’s on their jerseys. New Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine went with six defensive backs or more on over 60% of snaps against Chicago, a team without proof of life as an explosive passing offense. In fact, if the idea most teams have is take away the strength of the opponent, Pettine took the precise opposite approach: let the Bears run all day.